OGR’s New “Antique Truck”
An Antique Truck as Something Old?
Old Glory Ranch’s latest “Antique Truck” addition allows us to continue the bridal tradition of something old and something new. Our 1954 International Harvester R112 purchased originally by a farmer living outside St Louis was once a farm truck. I am quite sure it did not have an inkling of what the future might bring. It has now become a treasured vehicle at our Texas Hill Country venue, Old Glory Ranch, in Wimberley
Interesting facts about our Antique Truck:
- Bryce Engelhart purchased the truck in December 1985 for $3600.
- In the first four years, Bryce drove the truck 100,000 miles around the United States.
- It visited Steamboat Springs, Las Vegas, California, and all over Texas as well as the Midwest.
- The truck has attracted a lot of attention and has been well photographed and has even received a few movie offers.
- Bryce purchased tires for the truck in 1990 for $95 each and they lasted for 27 years. They had to finally be replaced in 2017 for $265 each.
- The truck was once maroon and at one time lay in pieces before becoming transformed into today’s version.
- Many adventures and memories made before Bryce finally made Wimberley his home in 1994.
The truck then became a popular departure vehicle for our newlyweds at Old Glory Ranch and as even helped a bride reach her ceremony at the Wedding Deck.
One of our most beautiful and popular departures involve the Antique Truck and gerbs.
Bryce recently retired to begin a new chapter in his life. He deemed Old Glory Ranch as a worthy place to leave his antique truck. We are so glad that he did so it can continue send our Old Glory Ranch couples off to their own unique adventures. We warmly welcome our new addition and look forward to all the new memories we will make together.
Bluebonnets Arrive at Old Glory Ranch
Spring is Here!
The bluebonnets have arrived at Old Glory Ranch. We know that spring is here when we peer out the front door of our hill country chapel and see an exquisite field of blue. Our Texas state flower, the bluebonnet, transforms our beautiful venue into a breathtaking portrait that adds a special touch to any wedding or event.
Wimberley brides choose April in hopes of having the field full of bluebonnets at their Texas Hill Country wedding. They do their research and try to lock in the perfect weekend for their dream wedding. Alas, only Mother Nature can choose the lucky one. Bluebonnets may bloom at the end of March or hide until April. It really is a gamble as to which weekend will prove to be the best and which bride is the luckiest. 
Bluebonnets are a huge part of Texas much like the clover is synonymous with Ireland. People love to drive around the hill country to find the perfect field of flowers for a quick photo.
We love the bluebonnets so much that we have “Miss Texas Moobonnet” watching over our bluebonnet field throughout the year.
Indian folklore called the flower a gift from the Great Spirit. Many of the men of the 27th legislature in 1901 wanted to go with the cactus or cotton boll. Instead they bowed to the ladies’ wishes and voted in the bluebonnet as our state flower on March 7, 1901. It was definitely a lady, Lady Bird Johnson, that played a major role in making sure we all have bluebonnets to enjoy every spring.
However it came to be, we eagerly await their arrival each year at Old Glory Ranch and love the unique hill country touch they add to all of our spring weddings and special events.
Flower Girls and Ring Bearers – Attraction or Distraction?
Should our nieces & nephews be in the wedding, or is this day just about us?
Some couples think it is a family affair while others feel the distraction of children in the ceremony takes away from the bride’s “Queen for a Day Moment”.
Making children an attraction at a wedding:
1) Choose appropriate ages for the task. Three to Eight Years Old is usually the ideal age for Flower Girls and Ring Bearers. If you must have a very young child, a wagon pulled by an older participant is a good idea. Taking these young children out after making their appearance, avoids unrealistic expectations.
2) Preparation for the event should include rehearsing. Tell them what a special privilege it is to honor the bride & groom.
3) Emphasize good behavior such as acting like the big boys & girls.
4) Fashionable clothing like Mommy & Daddy can sometimes encourage “best behavior”. Little girls love to be the “Princess for the Day,” while little boys love to dress like Daddy on a special occasion.
5) Attitudes & expressions of children can sometimes ad humor & a sense of relaxation to the ceremony. Old Glory Ranch had a 3 ½ year old twin boy who announced when he exited the chapel after sitting down in the middle of the ceremony, ” ’Dis’ wedding is too ‘Wong’.”
6) When children are expected to stay at the reception, childcare is an excellent idea. Old Glory Ranch provides childcare & entertainment for these children so parents & grandparents can enjoy the celebration. Young children can get very tired & cranky when the evening gets late. Taking young children home after the ceremony is also an option.
Well behaved and adorable children can certainly add great joy to the pomp & circumstance of a wedding. If the bride & groom are set on children in their ceremony, cute kids can lighten the tension & provide wonderful photo opts for the memory book. This is a definite attraction. Some couples still view these precious children as a distraction. When choosing the “attraction” route, always be prepared for the unexpected!
Still on the fence when deciding whether to invite children or not?
Check out these articles from Wedding Wire (The 12 Secrets to Well-Behaved Ring Bearers and Flower Girls) and CNN.com (13 rules for a kid-friendly wedding (or not).
Photos by Darcie Westerlund of Innovative Photography
Seasonal Touches in a Natural State –
This year, the weatherman may not be forecasting a white Christmas in the hill country, but we just can’t seem to get enough of the beautiful colors popping all over the ranch from the late fall foliage! We love changing seasons, especially this time of year so we are not complaining one bit! Take a look at these “Seasonal Touches” in a natural state.
Check out some of our favorite seasonal touches and accents that serve as beautiful backdrops at Old Glory Ranch page by following this Link
Jazz Brunch Series at Old Glory Ranch with Austin Catering
“Regretfully, we are having to postpone our first Jazz Brunch until a later date. We are not cancelling this “glorious” gourmet special event with Austin Catering, we are merely rescheduling it for Valentine’s Day Sunday February 14th, 2016. Mark your calendars now to treat your special someone to live jazz, and scrumptious pairings in a stunning ranch setting. Check back in closer to the event for another “lovely affair to cherish” at Old Glory Ranch!”
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Old Glory Ranch is pleased to announce their partnership with Austin Catering for their upcoming “Jazz Up Your Sunday-Funday Brunch” Series. Delight your taste buds with scrumptious offerings lovingly prepared by Austin Catering while your ears are soothed with the sounds of jazz from the Hot Texas Duo. All this while enjoying the glorious beauty of Old Glory Ranch, the premiere Texas Hill Country wedding and event venue. Mark your calendar for Sunday, October 18 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.
What better way to spend a Sunday than gathering up your family and friends for an art filled day in Wimberley! Start with the Jazz Up Your Sunday-Funday Brunch at Old Glory Ranch, then hit the square for some amazing shopping, boutiques and art studios. Wrap up the evening by attending the Wimberley Players annual fundraiser, “Celebrate”, held at the Leaning Pear featuring jazz-fusion pianist Dylan Meek.
A cash bar will be available. Purchase tickets by 5:00pm on Tuesday, October 13th.
To purchase tickets go to www.oldgloryranch.com/checkout
For more information call Old Glory Ranch at 512-847-3646 or Email [email protected]
Finding vendors for your Texas Hill Country Wedding
Finding vendors for your Texas Hill Country wedding can be a daunting task, not to mention time consuming. Where does one even start? You may have cousin Josh who strums a pretty mean guitar that could play during your ceremony, or a friend in college that can make angelic music come from her cello. Or, remember that cool Texas Hill Country DJ you and the love of your life danced the night away to? Yes, there are those, but they may also come with a lot of unknowns. Will they be on time? Will they be dressed appropriately? Will they follow your instructions? Do you have someone who can manage all of them leaving you open to enjoy your event?
Most brides either know exactly what they want and have mentally played through their entire wedding day from beginning to end a million and one times, or there are those that have an idea but don’t know where to start, and yet others that welcome input, guidance, recommendations and all they want is to show up on their special day and enjoy it, leaving all the planning to someone else. And there are the brides who want to do everything themselves, soup to nuts, as they say. There is no right or wrong answer, but people have to be put into place to execute your event from beginning to end, period. And you probably won’t want cousin Lucy who has no experience whatsoever running the show. Weddings are never a one man/woman show, it is far too overwhelming. Especially for those brides planning a destination wedding, or those who are still going to school, or have just stepped into a new career field after college, where will all this planning time fit into their schedule?
Typically the first thing a couple secures is the venue. With that out of the way, most venues also offer either in-house catering or bartenders, wedding coordinating, bakers, or they offer preferred lists of vendors they have worked with before and trust and can guide you to your ‘vendor match made in heaven’.
Decide what is the most important to you and budget from there. For some it is the venue, others it’s the food & beverages for their family and friends, there are those who cherish the decor and flowers, while some brides say it is the dress, and yet others say it is the sanctity of the union. If you can prioritize your preferences, then consider that in the financial aspect, and you will be well on your way to mapping out your big day.
Here at Old Glory Ranch we take a lot of the guesswork out of your planning by offering an in-house experienced day-of wedding coordinator for your Chapel Hall wedding and reception, along with an experienced site manager who will handle the vendor details for your event. We also offer in-house fresh floral & decor which many of our clients have raved over saying their guests have commented on it being the most beautiful flowers they have seen at any wedding. That, and the full service we offer garner the most glowing reviews from our clients.
Seasonal Wedding
Items to highlight the season of your wedding
If you are planning a seasonal wedding, such as spring, fall, or over the holidays, Old Glory Ranch has a broad range of seasonal accessories that can make your wedding memorable. Check out the categories of accessories we have available, and contact us with any questions about unique ways we can help highlight the season of your wedding.
